GRADUATE FASHION WEEK SHAY D PETER JENSEN FESTIVALS ALEX PRITCHARD

100 DISORDER MAGAZINE
ANNIE MCKIE
SARAH YOUNG talks to designer
Annie Mckie about keeping it
simple, upcycling and landing
her dream job.
Having recently graduated from Northumbria University,
Annie Mckie has been making her mark on the fashion world,
gaining attention from Vogue and other publications. With an
emphasis on craftsmanship and a commitment to challenging
the perceptions of high fashion, it’s no surprise that she’s been
capturing the eyes and minds of many. We caught up with Annie
to discuss her influences, pushing boundaries and landing her
dream job.
With a graduate collection focused on form, fabric and
workmanship, Annie produced a series of garments made from
upcycled canvas tents and boat sails. Produced as a reaction to
sustainability within the industry, the deviceful designer expanded
on her decision to tackle this topic by saying, “In this day and age
of fast fashion, people are so quick to waste and dismiss things. I
wanted to push the boundaries of what people think high fashion
should be and to show that you don’t always have to use the most
luxurious fabrics to make something desirable.”
“I started with a journey back to
where I grew up, a tiny seaside
village in Scotland. I camped
for the night on the beach and
began to look at boat sails and
tents...”
Annie’s decision to upcycle was established during an internship
with Christopher Raeburn, a designer renowned for the reappropriation
of military fabrics. However, it wasn’t until she
travelled back to her hometown that she decided exactly what
direction the collection was going to take: “I started with a
journey back to where I grew up, a tiny seaside village in Scotland.
I camped for the night on the beach and began to look at boat
sails and tents to influence silhouettes and construction methods
so it just made sense to upcycle materials from them too.”
into my garments.” This approach to design supports Annie’s
ability to produce garments founded in durability and function
whilst maintaining her aesthetic of simple, no-frills design with
a powerful and contemporary edge, “I love simplicity and don’t
think things need to be crazy or extreme to be considered fashion.”
Following the success of her graduate collection, Annie has recently
been appointed as assistant designer for BLACKBARRETT; the
second line collection of Neil Barrett’s main line design concept.
Having always been a huge inspiration to her, Annie was delighted
to begin working for the prodigious designer, “It’s minimal,
contemporary and muted which is my aesthetic too. I have
always admired his style so to be working for BLACKBARRETT
is amazing”.
Landing the job, however, was down to much more than her
groundbreaking collection, as Annie knew she would need to
make a lasting impression. Taking it upon herself to create a
brand-focused project prior to her interview demonstrated a clear
sense of commitment and resides as Annie’s top tip to any future
graduate, “I would advise graduates not to be shy about letting
employers know how much they want a position at the company.
I took it upon myself to do a small project for the brand; it wasn’t
huge and didn’t take long but it showed I was serious.”
“I would advise graduates
not to be shy about letting
employers know how much
they want a position at the
company.”
Despite working with salvaged materials, Annie’s emphasis on
technical mastery remained prevalent as she re-evaluated her
construction methods, “The materials I used were really great to
work with; I wasn’t restricted at all. For example, boat sails use a
triple stitch method to reinforce the seams and this was worked